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Airline owes more than Rs
200 cr to the exchequer CBEC chairman does not rule out prosecution
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The
Revenue Department was working on a comprehensive plan to recover tax dues from
the debt-ridden Kingfisher Airlines (KFA), which owed more than Rs 200 crore to
the exchequer, a top finance ministry official said on Tuesday.
“As
a matter of fact, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) and the Central
Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) have quantified the amount, which Kingfisher
owes to the government, and we will make out comprehensive plan to recover tax
dues,” CBEC Chairman Praveen Mahajan told reporters on the sidelines of an
event organised by industry body CII here.
“We’ve
have already frozen KFA’s accounts. We have taken all actions prescribed in the
Service Tax Act… this is in our interest also,” Mahajan added.
When
asked whether CBEC is contemplating prosecuting KFA, Mahajan said, “Prosecution
also might happen... But everything takes time. There are different steps you
have to take before you prosecute somebody.”
The
CBEC chief indicated the Revenue Department might talk to the Directorate
General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the aviation regulator, as the beleaguered
airlines is likely to submit a comprehensive revival plan to the latter by
month-end.
“Finance
Minister P Chidambaram has told CBDT and CBEC to get together and plan things
out. It may involve talking to the regulator,” Mahajan said.
Answering
questions on the revenue collection, Mahajan expressed confidence that the
government would be able to meet indirect tax realisation target of Rs 5.05
lakh crore for 2012-13. Indirect taxes during April-September rose by 15.6 per
cent to Rs 2.17 lakh crore as against the annual target of 27 per cent. “Tax
collection is doing better. We are hopeful of meeting the target. Service tax
collection growth is already more than 35 per cent,” he said.
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